It’s official. The Prophet delivered the grim news that Horizon Deep would be closing down.
But this was not a prophecy; it was delivered by Vusi in his new capacity as Mine Manager. Yes, after much gnashing of the teeth, deliberation, soul searching and further meetings with the Board of Directors and Shareholders, Vusi finally cracked the top job. But it’s a job with no prospects except the prospect of retrenching people and causing heartache. Vusi felt that by taking it, he could handle the process with more care and attention to the needs of the workers and people of Horizon Deep.
By the way, did anyone notice that the tall white haired guy at the Board meetings who seemed anti Vusi and dead against "throwing the bones," looked familiar in a weird sort of way? I think I've worked it out. Isn't he David Hall-Green, former SABC News reader and presenter of Police File? I recall him from my extreme youth. In those days he had a head of pitch black hair but time does move on and clearly so has he.
So back to Vusi. Talk about shooting the messenger who delivers the bad news. After the press announcement and TV broadcast of the impending closure, Vusi headed into the Rec Club for what was probably a well deserved and desperately needed drink only to be met with hostile looks from the shocked patrons and a very bitchy Maggie. She told him that he had no right to be there drinking at the Rec, and that he should take his business elsewhere.
Who died and made her God? That woman is so painful, she actually causes me physical discomfort. I often end up gritting my teeth when she appears on screen.
Undoubtedly the closure of the mine will affect many people and already Zeb Matebane is stressing about future contracts, the viability of the Rec Club and the Mine Kitchens. He and Ma Agnes were dumbstruck that Vusi had sat with them and had coffee at their breakfast table, in a celebratory fashion, but had not said a word about the bad news that was brewing. But of course, Vusi is a man of honour and had given Derek his word that he wouldn’t say a thing until it was announced officially.
Stella who was in the know because of her working for the mine manager was not quite as discreet. She’d had correspondence to type about the impending news and had dropped a word or two to Tim and probably thirty of her other closest friends. So by the time the announcement was to be made even the mysterious Mavis had spoken of rumours circulating about a mine closure.
Rule Number One for Vusi. If he wants confidentiality he might have to put Stella Fouche first on the retrenchment list.
There still seems to be plans afoot to mine the shaft pillar which by all accounts seems to be a risky venture, but according to the Board a very lucrative one. So Vusi will have his job cut out what with an impending retrenchment programme but also the need for mineworkers to be mining the shaft pillar.
The Union has already indicated that a strike may be on the cards if the decision to close the mine goes ahead. We’re in for fireworks next week!
What with all of this excitement, some of the other happenings have faded into the background.
A week or so back, Bra Fox was still raging on looking for Vusi, and he eventually found him having a drink with Letti at Papa G’s place. It got ugly, as things normally do with Bra Fox. He is quick to draw a gun, but Papa G showed him why he is the Daddy of all Gangsters, by plugging him before Bra Fox could even say “Make My Day, Punk!”
So Bra Fox is in hospital under police protection and Niemand has a tight case that will hopefully send him back to chookie for a while.
Letti considered the idea of adding a charge of attempted rape but in the end decided to withdraw the charges. She did this because she felt that in all fairness, she should have also taken more care, knowing what a scumbag Fox was and that she too was responsible in some way for what almost happened. It was a courageous admission and I suppose one that brings home the harsh reality of rape, especially in South Africa.
While, no means no, there is also a duty on us as women to not put ourselves in compromising positions where brutes might not understand the concept that no actually does mean no. The theoretical argument is that women have full rights over their bodies and even while in a state of undress can still decide to say no. But the terrible reality is that in practice it doesn’t always work that way and, once violated its bloody hard to prove it wasn’t consensual. So the moral of Letti’s story was: take responsibility for your own safety and don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation because you may pay the price for it.
Cherel managed to get the go ahead for her sordid little show to expose cheaters to the public and got Kimberly in as victim number one. Kimberly was hell bent for revenge and had an Amniocentesis Test, and using DNA obtained from Lee, got conclusive proof that Barker was the father of her unborn child.
I have to admit that I’m not impressed at all with Cherel in this new role as Talk Show Host. For me it somehow doesn’t fly and lacks credibility. While I think Michelle Botes is a very good actress, I find that when they show her as the host, she looks positively acted and so contrived. It has no element of realness to it. It actually looks like she is trying to act as a talk show host instead of it coming naturally. And another thing, is she looking older and dressing in awful clothes lately, or is it just my imagination?
I’d be interested to know how other viewers are finding these aspects of Cherel, and is this Talk Show thing working for you?
The idea that ONTV seems to only get its ratings and interest from shows featuring Barker Haines is also a little tired. Frankly I’m utterly bored with everyone trying to show Barker up all the time on TV. And this includes Lee’s little private vendetta.
In the latest effort, Barker appeared on Cherel’s show after she had first offered him the right of response and then denied him the opportunity. He pitched up in person, got onto the show full of charm and reason and said he was quite happy to accept the pathology report which was proof of his paternity. He also said that he had every intention of supporting the child. Talk about taking the wind out of everyone’s sails. It was like Dr Phil’s rubbish show except Dr Phil is more slick, slimy and credible than Cherel. From the forthcoming promo’s it seems this will not be put to rest and we can hope to see more of Kimberly and Cherel in action on the tacky show trying other angles to bring Barker down.
Ho hum…
The only thing to look forward to is that there might be some interesting casualties.
Lee and Rajesh, who found each other, are once again heading for the rocks. Lee seems unable to balance her personal love life with her all-out vendetta against Barker and obsession with her mother and it’s beginning to take its toll on her relationship with Rajesh. He’s always so cool calm and collected which she isn’t but whenever he offers support she is downright cold. And I reckon this guy can only take the freeze for just so long before he withdraws and becomes an eligible bachelor again. Sorry to say it, but Lee deserves everything she gets if that happens.
Anthea who is about to marry Barker has also been manipulated by Lee, who takes pleasure in showing her every single thing that makes Barker look bad.
In an uncharacteristic turn of events Anthea went missing. She went for a walk and stayed out for four hours while everyone was searching frantically for her. I suppose they are lucky, she wasn’t as bad as Forest Gump who went out for a run one day and came back two years later. When she arrived back, she attacked her chess board with purpose and declared that she had done some thinking, cleared her head and “was a person who always kept her promises.”
So which promise is this? The one to marry? Or some other promise she has suddenly remembered?
Keep watching, or check out my column next week. It’s bound to all unfold!
***Catch Isidingo on SABC3 on weekdays at 18h30